Luxembourgers cherish their independence and separate identity in
Europe. Modesty, friendship and strong national pride are valued.
They enjoy a slower pace of life than most of northern Europe.
Family is very important. Parents influence every aspect of their
children's lives; however, this is weakening as more young people
leave the country to study/work abroad.

Meeting and Greeting

Shake hands with everyone present--men, women and children--at
a business or social meeting. Shake hands again when leaving.

Good friends kiss cheeks, one on each side.

Body Language

Luxembourgers are friendly but reserved.

Do not put your hands in your pockets.

Corporate Culture

Luxembourgers take punctuality for business meetings very
seriously and expect that you will do likewise; call with an
explanation if you will be delayed.

Meetings are brief. Luxembourgers usually get right down to
business.

People are reserved in both their business and private lives.
Business/private lives are kept clearly separate.

Traditionally, older, more established companies have had a
strict hierarchy, but union representation on the board has become
more common and a consensus-oriented decision style has been
implemented.

Dining and Entertainment

Luxembourgers insist on punctuality for most social occasions.
For evening dinners, arrive 15 minutes later than what is stated
on the invitation.

Dinner is usually a social occasion and a time to enjoy good
food, wine and discussion.

When finished eating, place your knife and fork side by side
on the plate at the 5:25 position. To quietly signify that you are
not finished or that you would like more food, cross your knife
and fork in the middle of your plate. Leaving food on your plate
is impolite.

Dress

Cleanliness and neatness are very important.

For business, men should wear suits and ties, sometimes hats,
or just a sports coat/blazer and dress pants.

Women should wear dresses or suits.

Gifts

Always bring a gift to the hostess when invited to someone's
home. It will probably not be unwrapped immediately (unless no
other guests are present or expected).

Small business gifts may be exchanged, but usually not at the
first meeting.

It is acceptable, but not expected, to give a Christmas gift
to a Luxembourger colleague, but never send it to a Luxembourger's
home.

Give: books, music, good quality liquor.

Helpful Hints

Recognize Luxembourg's uniqueness and its nationality. Do not
lump the Luxembourgers together with the French or Belgians, and
especially not with the Germans.

Expect the pace of life to be less hurried than most of
Europe.

Don't chew gum in public.

Especially for Women

Foreign women will have no problem doing business in
Luxembourg.

A foreign woman does not have to think twice about inviting a
Luxembourger man to dinner.

Make arrangements in advance with the waiter to pay for
business dinners.

Adapted from material compiled by Window on
the World, a cross-cultural training and consulting firm. Originally
based on material contained in the "Put Your Best Foot Forward" series
of books by
Mary Murray Bosrock.